Essendon CAS verdict: The best top-up chances from the Bombers VFL team

Essendon coach John Worsfold hinted strongly on Thursday that the club would look to its own VFL team to provide some of the 10 top-up players they are allowed to recruit as replacements for the 12 Bombers banned for the season by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The four most likely candidates to make the jump from the club's VFL side to its AFL side are James Polkinghorne, Jordan Schroder, Daniel Coghlan and Aaron Heppell.

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Essendon begin planning for difficult season

Coach John Worsfold dismisses suggestions that the Bombers won't win a game this season and says the club has begun appointing its leadership group and will promote the best rookies to the senior list.

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Essendon begin planning for difficult season

Coach John Worsfold dismisses suggestions that the Bombers won't win a game this season and says the club has begun appointing its leadership group and will promote the best rookies to the senior list.

James Polkinghorne

The former Brisbane Lion had a stellar debut year with the Essendon VFL team, winning the best-and-fairest and playing a key role in the side's charge towards a preliminary final. The hard-at-it midfielder averaged 20 touches a game and booted 14 goals. He was originally drafted by the Lions in 2007 and played 94 games, including two finals, for them. Played in two NAB Challenge games last year as an Essendon top-up player.

The former Cat struggled for opportunities during Geelong's most recent golden period and managed only five games in four seasons before being delisted at the end of 2014. But the 23-year-old, who won the JJ Liston Trophy in 2013 as the VFL's best-and-fairest player, was also one of the Essendon VFL team's best players last year. Played a NAB Challenge game last year as an Essendon top-up player.

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Daniel Coghlan

Yet to make it onto an AFL list, the silky midfielder was a standout performer last year and finished runner-up to Polkinghorne in the team's best-and-fairest count. The 24-year-old appears to a readymade league footballer.

The younger brother of vice-captain Dyson Heppell, there would be no shortage of irony if he was upgraded to the Bombers' senior list as a result of his brother's suspension. Obviously isn't as gifted as Dyson but would be a useful addition to the senior list given the predicament the club finds itself in. Will be unmistakable on the footy field as, like his brother, he also sports a mop of dreadlocks. Played a NAB Challenge game last year as an Essendon top-up player.